Central Los Angeles

Streets to Be Closed Near Planned School

The Los Angeles City Council has voted to start street-closing procedures near the future Belmont Learning Center, a proposed 5,300-student campus just west of downtown.

A motion directing the Bureau of Engineering to initiate action on the street closings is significant because "this is the first concrete step the city has taken toward a very important project," said Councilman Mike Hernandez, whose district includes the planned "super high school."

The learning center would be built by the Los Angeles Unified School District on a vacant lot near Temple Street and Beaudry Avenue. The 35-acre complex would include high-tech computer learning center, retail shops and a low-income housing complex. Funding has yet to be finalized.

The city plans to close portions of Edgeware Road, Bixel Street, Boylston Street, Mignonette Street, Colton Street, Court Street and Angelina Street. No date has been set for the closures. Construction is expected to be completed in 1999. The high school would replace the current Belmont High School, which would be turned into a middle school.